Theoretical and Experimental Psychology. 2025. 3.

Background. The situation of a protracted military conflict along with a high level of uncertainty associated with it put a person in conditions of planning and decision-making with poorly predictable consequences, increase the level of anxiety about the future, and create difficulties in setting long-term goals. Teaching staff of higher educational institutions of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, being part of civilian population of the region, find themselves in a difficult life situation, close to extreme. The ongoing transformations affect various spheres of life and, in this regard, actualize scientific interest in studying the relationship between time perspective and leading decision-making strategies among the region’s population.

Objective. To study the relationship between time perspective and decision-making strategies among the population living in the zone of local military conflict.

Study Participants. Teaching staff of higher educational institutions of the DPR and LPR (N = 1214, 898 women and 316 men).

Methods. Melbourne Decision Making Inventory adapted by T.V. Kornilova, Action Control Scale by D. Kuhl adapted by S.A. Shapkin, Time Perspective Questionnaire by F. Zimbardo. For statistical processing of the data, the study implemented r-Spearman rank correlation method, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov criterion, the T-criterion, the analysis of variance, and the linear regression analysis.

Results. As a result of constructing the regression model, it was revealed that the ability to make independent decisions is influenced by the following factors: Procrastination, Fatalistic Present, Negative Past, Hypervigilance. The tendency to procrastination is influenced by the following factors: Future, Avoidance, Hypervigilance, Realization, Negative Past, Hedonistic Present. The tendency to hypervigilance is influenced by the following factors: Fatalistic Present, Negative Past, Future, Procrastination, Avoidance, Vigilance. The ability to the only productive coping in a decision-making situation — vigilance — is influenced by the following factors: Future, Hypervigilance, Realization.

Regression analysis demonstrated that the ability for independent decision-making is influenced by such factors as “procrastination”, “fatalistic present”, “negative past”, “hypervigilance”; the tendency to procrastination is influenced by the factors “future”, “avoidance”, “hypervigilance”, “realization”, “negative past”, “hedonistic present”; the tendency to hypervigilance is influenced by the factors “fatalistic present”, “negative past”, “future”, “procrastination”, “avoidance”, “vigilance”. The ability for productive coping in a decision-making situation — vigilance is influenced by the factors “future”, “hypervigilance”, “realization”.

Conclusions. The parameters of a person’s time perspective are significantly interconnected with decision-making strategies. In a situation of living in a protracted military conflict zone, negative past experience, hedonistic and fatalistic present determine a person’s choice of non-constructive decision-making strategies: procrastination, avoidance, and hypervigilance. Common “hinders” to making constructive decisions are a negative past that the individual cannot accept and transform into life experience, as well as belief in fate and the inability to control the events of one’s life. The constructive strategy — vigilance is positively associated with a focus on the future and a positive past.

Background. The article considers the problem of helplessness and its contribution to the experience of everyday and traumatic stress. The relevance of the analysis of psychological aspects of helplessness is due to its currently ambiguous interpretation as a consequence of a lack of interpersonal resources, including regulatory ones, and as a personality trait, and as a state of confusion and indifference caused by objective circumstances.

Objective. Theoretical and empirical analysis of the specifics of relationship between stress and helplessness in adolescence.

Methods. Theoretical analysis of literature, comparative analysis of the results of empirical studies on the problem of relationship between stress and helplessness.

Results. The paper presents a theoretical and empirical analysis of helplessness experience and its manifestations in different types of stressful situations, taking into account the level of perceived stress and coping strategies. In order to analyze helplessness as a cause of stress and as its consequence, the data of empirical studies conducted by the author on child and adolescent samples have been compared with the results of studying everyday stress in adults (Golovey et al., 2018). The analysis shows the differences in the experience of everyday and traumatic stress and the role of helplessness in coping with the negative consequences of different types of stress.

Conclusions. Helplessness as a consequence of the stressor’s impact and the stress experienced in response acts as a marker of the novelty of the situation for the subject and a signal to move to active actions aimed at solving the problem. In case of chronic stress, the content of any situation is reduced to the experience of helplessness, regardless of the situation specifics. There are age differences in the experience of helplessness as an independent stressor.

Background. In the modern reality, a person faces many daily troubles, which accumulate and have a negative impact on mental and physical health. In this regard, the relevance of studying the structure of daily stress (DS) is obvious, as it allows to understand the specifics of the relationship between daily stressors depending on the life situation. Understanding the structure of daily stress that occurs in a person's ordinary situation and in a situation of uncertainty is important not only for scientific knowledge, but also for the psychological practice in terms of developing effective coping behavior programs and crisis counseling.

Objective. To study the relationships of various stressors in the structure of DS in everyday life and in a situation of uncertainty (under the influence of a global macrostressor — COVID-19).

Study Participants. The study involved 771 respondents aged 20 to 68 years, including 530 women and 241 men: 407 people before the pandemic period and 364 people during the pandemic period.

Methods. Everyday Stressors Questionnaire (Petrash et al., 2018), comparative analysis, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), structural modeling method "path model".

Results. The study revealed certain differences in the severity of DS characteristics indicating an increase in the intensity of subjective stress experience and a decrease in the level of sensitivity to daily stressors during the pandemic period. The comparative analysis demonstrated gender differences in the intensity of DS experience and the level of sensitivity to everyday stressors. The results of structural modeling identified the specifics in the structure of DS in everyday life (before the pandemic) and in a situation of uncertainty (during the pandemic).

Conclusions. The specificity of the interrelations of stress factors in the structure of daily stress varies depending on the living conditions of a person. In habitual living conditions, the leading stressor is "violation of plans". Under conditions of a macrostressor, a "stress complex" of a situation of uncertainty arises, the triggers being the stressors "expectations", "violation of plans", "affairs/work", associated with the unknown consequences and uncertainty of the future, including employment. The level of stress in the area of family relations in a situation of uncertainty tends to increase in both men and women, but in men this increase is more pronounced. At the same time, women show a more pronounced decrease in the level of sensitivity to daily stressors. In general, under conditions of a macrostressor, the severity of daily stress and its characteristics is higher in women.

Background. In the modern society characterized by uncertainty and variability, it is relevant to study the social well-being in various social groups, university students in particular.

Objective. The study had its purpose to reveal the features of social well-being of university students.

Study Participants. 3855 students of pedagogical universities and classical universities of the Russian Federation participated in the study.

Methods. The study is based on the materials of an anonymous monitoring, which was conducted in 2023 by the staff of the Laboratory of Sociological Research in Education of the Center for Educational Development of the Russian Academy of Education. The data obtained on the ad hoc questionnaire were processed by means of statistical software package SPSS 21 and StatSoft Statistica 7.0. Factor analysis was performed using the method of selecting the Main Components with Varimax rotation.

Results. The study identified the features of the social well-being of university students manifested in their value orientations, emotional assessment of their own future, and assessment of the significance of various threats. The article also describes the differentiating influence of students' socio-economic status and emigration intentions on their social well-being. It shows that low-income students are more likely to be pessimistic about their future and to have concerns about their economic inadequacy and social vulnerability, while high-income students are more optimistic about their future and focused on self-realization. Students' attitudes towards emigration are associated with a set of values that can be classified as "liberal" and a set of socio-political fears. The desire to live in Russia is characterized by protective attitudes related to traditional spiritual and moral values. The study revealed the specific features of social well-being of university students, which are reflected in their value orientations.

Conclusions. The analysis of the research results allows to see how students who identify themselves as belonging to a certain socio-economic stratum experience their life context. It also identifies the features of social well-being that contribute to the formation of emigration intentions at the university stage. The social well-being of students from different socio-economic strata differs fundamentally in terms of their basic attitude towards the future ("optimism" vs "pessimism"). Emigration attitudes are linked to the value structures that can be broadly categorized as "traditional values" vs "liberal values." The results obtained can be useful for developing educational programs at universities, as well as for the work of psychological services aimed at improving the social well-being of students.

Background. In recent years, Russian PhD students have demonstrated a low level of thesis defense. The authors consider motivation to be an important psychological factor, and academic supervision style to be an essential interpersonal factor of PhD students' success and completion of PhD studies.

Objective. The study had its purpose to identify the specific PhD students' motivational profiles and to reveal their differences in three indicators of motivating academic supervision styles, supporting the PhD students' basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

Study Participants. The study participants were 151 PhD students from Russian universities (M = 26.7 y.o.; SD = 4.17).

Methods. To assess intrinsic, various types of extrinsic motivation and amotivation of scientific activity the "Universal perceived locus of causality scales" (UPLOC) were used. To assess academic supervision styles the "Doctorate-related Need Support Scale" (D-N2S) was used. The analysis also included the indicators of publication activity, intentions to complete PhD studies, and satisfaction with them. The methods of statistical data processing included correlation and dispersion analysis, latent profile analysis, and calculation of the scale reliability indicators.

Results. The study allowed to identify four PhD students' motivational profiles: autonomous (54%), introjected (13%), external (18%), and amotivated (15%). It is shown that these four PhD students' groups differ significantly in the perceived academic supervision styles (autonomy support, structure and involvement), satisfaction with PhD studies and, partially, publication activity. The autonomous type, characterized by the dominance of intrinsic and identified motivation for working on the thesis, demonstrates the best indicators of success and satisfaction.

Conclusions. Motivational profiles reflecting dominant motives demonstrate expected associations with academic supervision styles, satisfaction with PhD studies, intentions to complete them, and publication activity of PhD students, with only half of them revealing an optimal motivation profile for writing a thesis. Consequently, academic supervision practices that promote PhD students' autonomous motivation related to their satisfaction with their PhD studies and publication activity can be a target when organizing advanced training for academic supervisors in universities.

Background. As part of experiments simulating interplanetary flights and work in outer space, an appropriate psychological support is required for crew members due to the circumstances associated with prolonged stay in isolation. Psychological monitoring of the crew members' status is not always possible. It is shown that indicators of interpersonal relationships, intra-group interaction, and attitude to the passage of time are important for assessing the level of psychological well-being.

Objective. The study had its purpose to reveal the dynamics of interpersonal relationships and time perception during an isolation experiment simulating a long-term space flight.

Study Participants. 6 participants of the ground-based simulation experiment "Sirius-23": 2 men and 4 women aged 26 to 37 years.

Methods. The study implemented the "Time Perception Scale" and the "Color Test of Relationships". Data processing included descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation analysis, comparative analysis of the empirical distribution with the expected uniform distribution using the Kolmogorov — Smirnov d-test, hierarchical cluster analysis using the full connection method, analysis of the significance of differences in dependent groups by the criterion of signs ("Statistics 12.0").

Results. The study has revealed the general dynamics of the sociometric status of the crew members: from a general ambivalent attitude in the period of primary socio-psychological adaptation, with further clarification of social roles within the team, resulting in a change in the attitude of the crew members to each other. Certain fluctuations take place in the individual sociometric statuses: from the ambivalence zone towards contrasting polarities; a statistically significant clarification of statuses was recorded after 8 months of being in isolation. The study demonstrated normative group processes: in the course of working together, the crew members formed an individual opinion about each other, assessed personal and professional qualities. Statistically significant changes were recorded in relation to the feelings of the negative register, the subjective perception of the passage of time, correlating with the ability of crew members to cope with the affect of anger.

Conclusions. The study provided an analysis of dynamics of interpersonal relationships and perception of time during the "Sirius-23" isolation experiment. The data obtained indicate the need for focused psychological support at the initial stage of the experiment, which actualizes the development of programs for the prevention of intergroup conflicts and the possibilities for psychological assistance.

Background. In the context of rapid digitalization of the educational environment, a transformation of cognitive processes is observed, accompanied by a change in the nature of metacognitive regulation of educational activity. The problem of metacognitive decline syndrome, manifested in a weakening of the ability for self-reflection, planning and control of cognitive strategies, is of particular relevance. This phenomenon can be a key factor in university maladjustment, expressed in a decrease in academic performance, an increase in psychoemotional stress and cognitive overload in students.

Objective. To identify and analyze the dynamics of students' personality characteristics for the period 2014–2024, to reveal the impact of digitalization on the students' metacognition, regulatoryity, and communicativeness, and establish its connection with maladjustment in the educational environment. Based on the data obtained, propose "digital detox" strategies as a way to correct the identified negative trends.

Study Participants. The study involved 1148 respondents aged 18 to 22 years (Mage = 19.8; SD = 1.2). The sample included two time cohorts: 582 undergraduate students (2014), 566 undergraduate students (2024).

Methods. The study was based on a survey design using the 16PF-questionnaire by R.B. Cattell in an adapted Russian-language version. To process quantitative data, the method of psychological profiles and structural psychological analysis were used.

Results. A comparative analysis of students' personality profiles for 2014 and 2024 revealed increasing discordance and disorganization of the personality structure, which is manifested in a decrease in adaptive abilities and degradation of metacognitive functions. In the cognitive sphere, fragmentation of thought processes and weakening of correlations between cognitive factors were found, which indicates the formation of a superficial, situationally-oriented style of thinking. Structural analysis of personality showed looseness and fragmentation of connections between adaptively significant qualities, which reduces the integrity of the personality and its resources, and also confirms the need to develop "digital detox" programs and restore regulatory functions.

Conclusions. The results of the study confirm significant negative changes in the psychological structure of students' personalities during the period of digital transformation, including a decrease in adaptive abilities, fragmentation of thinking, and disintegration of self-regulation. The data obtained substantiate the need to implement psychological and pedagogical programs aimed at developing metacognitive skills, conscious digital behavior, and restoring cognitive-regulatory functions.

Background. In the modern geopolitical situation, Russians increasingly show symptoms of life stress, which causes an increase in anxiety and depressive states, and the need for ecologic and effective forms of self-help, psychocorrection, psychological assistance, psychotherapy is growing. At the same time, the problem of using creative methods to provide assistance in various approaches to psychotherapy and psychological counseling is insufficiently covered in the literature. Despite the wide range of methods used, there is no holistic analysis of creative methods within the framework of various psychological paradigms.

Objective. To study the possibilities of applying creative methods of overcoming life stress within the framework of various psychological approaches and modalities in domestic and foreign scientific literature.

Methods. A systematic analysis of the literature in databases (PubMed, ELIBRARY, Google Scholar) was conducted using the keywords "creative method", "stress", "psychological counselling", "art therapy", "expressive therapy" and their combinations. The analysis included the articles on using creative methods in different types of psychotherapy, including art therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, and dance movement therapy.

Results. The analysis made it possible to summarize information about creative methods, the mechanisms of their impact, and the possibilities of applying creativity in accordance with the theoretical principles of the main psychotherapeutic approaches. It has been shown that art therapy using artistic means, music, dance-movement and drama therapy lead to a reduction in stress and anxiety levels. The use of a combination of creative methods and techniques related to other areas of psychotherapy, as well as integrative approaches, was also effective, in particular, for people suffering from migraines and pregnant women.

Conclusions. Creative methods have a significant potential in dealing with stress. Their use and integration into existing therapeutic approaches enhance the possibilities of psychotherapy. However, additional research is needed to expand the evidence base and determine the optimal ways to use them in dealing with stress.

Background. Cancer is associated with significant decline in patients' quality of life. Satisfaction of basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness may serve as an important factor of their subjective well-being during cancer treatment. Different medical and social contexts of treatment during chemo- and radiation therapy create different conditions for both satisfaction and frustration of these needs. The insufficiency of scientific data on predictors of subjective well-being in cancer patients determines the relevance and novelty of the study presented in the article.

Objective. To investigate the relationship between satisfaction of needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness and subjective well-being in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Study Participants. 107 cancer patients (90 women, 17 men) receiving treatment at three specialized oncology centers in Moscow. 52 patients were receiving chemotherapy and 55 were receiving radiotherapy. 59% of the sample were breast cancer patients, while 41% had tumors of other localizations.

Methods. The study implemented a set of screening methods for assessing the subjective well-being in accordance with E. Diener's model: the Satisfaction with Life Scale (E.N. Osin, D.A. Leontiev), the Scale of Positive and Negative Experiences (E.I. Rasskazova, A.A. Lebedeva), as well as the Scale of Satisfaction of Basic Needs in the Context of Treatment (M.S. Kovyazina et al., M.K. Karakurkchi et al.). Statistical analysis was conducted in RStudio and included Student's t-test for group comparisons, Pearson/Spearman correlation analysis.

Results. Analysis of the data obtained in the study showed that patients receiving chemotherapy have a lower level of satisfaction of basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness than patients receiving radiation therapy. Satisfaction of basic psychological needs significantly correlates with indicators of subjective well-being; this relationship does not depend on the type of therapy and is found in both groups of patients — receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Conclusions. The medical and social conditions of patients receiving chemotherapy are more complex that negatively influences their psychological well-being. Although the satisfaction of basic psychological needs is essential for the subjective well-being of patients treated with either chemotherapy or radiotherapy, fulfilling these needs proves more challenging for those on chemotherapy.

Background. The problem of the multi-faceted study of memory is highly relevant, since it is an integral mental process and a basic characteristic of all human life activity. Long-term studies of the short-term memory by means of "Double Test" have shown its effectiveness in terms of a multidimensional assessment of the volume of operational and direct memory, as well as their ratio, which makes it possible to quantify, determine the reserve capabilities of the short-term memory and the level of mental activity that supports mnestic activity. At the same time, it is important to study the dynamics of short-term memory indicators using the Double Test in the context of medical and correctional measures, which is currently understudied.

Objective. To demonstrate the possibilities of implementing the "Double Test" in the dynamics of corrective influence, which is important for research activities and clinical psychological practice.

Study Participants. 69 patients, including 49 elderly individuals with moderate cognitive impairment (ICD-F06.7) aged 60 to 75 years (M(SD) = 69.25 ± 7.65) and 20 patients with vascular dementia (ICD-F01.9) aged 55 to 75 years (M(SD) = 64.9 ± 8.6). A control group of healthy young individuals was also examined.

Methods. Short-term memory was assessed by means of "Double test", including two subtests: one for immediate memory and the other one — for working memory. To study the short-term memory in dynamics, the research design involved the method of forming and activating the artificial stable functional connections of the human brain.

Results. In the groups of elderly people with mild cognitive impairement and vascular dementia, there was a decrease (relative to normal) in operational memory, most evident in the group of people with dementia. Normative indicators of direct memory were observed in the control group. After exposure to the method of formation and activation of artificial stable functional brain connections, elderly people with mild cognitive impairement experienced an increase in operational memory, while young people showed an increase in direct memory. The observed dynamics may indicate different mechanisms in the nature of compensatory changes in the structural and functional organization of memory in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment and in healthy controls.

Conclusions. The experience of using the "Double test" in the research activities on different groups of ill and healthy individuals allows to conclude that this technique is suitable for a multi-faceted quantitative assessment of short-term memory, as well as for studying the dynamics of short-term memory indicators using the method of forming and activating artificial stable functional brain connections, which is confirmed by the peculiarities of psychological restructuring of the short-term memory, first of all — an increase in operational memory, which was initially significantly reduced in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment and in people with dementia, while in the group of healthy people there was an increase in direct memory at the initial normative values of direct and operational memory.

Abstract

Background. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to organize scientifically based psychological support and rehabilitation of children and adolescents who have experienced traumatic events related to combat operations.

Objective. To explore the potential of implementing the Nonexistent Animal Test to assess the emotional state of children who have experienced traumatic events in combat zones.

Study Participants. The study involved children from the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, as well as the Kursk and Belgorod regions. The total sample consisted of 50 children aged 4.5 to 13 years (mean age 7.7 years), including 24 children (48%) who lived in the combat zone and were relocated to temporary accommodation centers without their parents, and 26 children (52%) who were relocated from cities near the combat zone with a parent or guardian.

Methods. The Nonexistent Animal Test, content analysis, analysis of an individual case.

Results. The study results revealed pronounced emotional disturbances in children experiencing combat situations and forced resettlement. The Nonexistent Animal Test confirmed its diagnostic value for identifying anxiety, aggression, and signs of psychological trauma in children experiencing stressful situations in war zones.

Conclusions. Children with experience of living in a war zone exhibit increased levels of anxiety and aggression, as well as depressed mood. The study confirms the feasibility of using the Nonexistent Animal Test with children relocated to temporary accommodation centers.